By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Central High School officially named former Missouri Western baseball coach Buzz Verduzco as their next head softball coach Monday night.
The move was officially approved during the St. Joseph School District board meeting.
Verduzco completed his 23rd season with Missouri Western in 2023 and retired from the post at the end of the season.
Verduzco recorded over 600 wins with the Griffons, including an MIAA Regular Season Championship in 2013 and four NCAA tournament berths.
A native of Stockton, California, Verduzco came to Missouri Western from Washington State University where he was an assistant for the Cougar program for over 10 seasons.
Verduzco succeeds Kendra Hodgin as Central's head softball coach. Hodgin coached the Indians each of the past five seasons and will continue to work at Truman Middle School.
Central also announced the hiring of Liam Catherall as the next boys' head soccer coach Monday.
Catherall is a 1990 Central graduate and was a member of the school's inaugural soccer team, serving as team captain his junior and senior years. Catherall has also spent over two decades coaching competitive soccer, including in the St. Joseph Youth Soccer Association.
Catherall succeeds Craig Vulgamott as Central's boys' soccer coach. Vulgamott had held that role since 2019.
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